published February 12, 2012
This past Friday, Austin-based Beyond Batten Disease Foundation hosted a benefit concert featuring country star, Keith Urban. The final item up for bid created the biggest buzz of the night, a package that included two VIP tickets to Austin’s inaugural Formula One race in November and the chance to do three laps on the Circuit of the Americas in a race car. The winning bid went for $60,000- twice- raising a total of approximately $120,000 for The Batten Foundation.
“It was pretty amazing. It was a big night, but Formula One was clearly the top performer of our auction,” said Shannon Janek, co-chairwoman of the event. Janek said one of the winners was Austin businessman/philanthropist and car collector, Milton Verrett .
Batten disease is named after the British pediatrician who first described it in 1903. It’s a rare disorder of the nervous system that initially causes loss of vision and seizures in children and typically results in their deaths in the late teens or early 20s. Beyond Batten Disease Foundation seeks to eradicate Batten disease and prevent other serious and frequently fatal genetic childhood diseases.
Austinites Craig and Charlotte Benson started the foundation in 2008 after their then 5-year-old daughter, Christiane, was diagnosed with the disease.
Circuit of The Americas is proud to have been a part of this event which raised more than $500,000 through the live auction. The money will be used to publicly launch a genetic screening test for Batten and 600 other diseases. More can be found about the organization at www.beyondbatten.org.
http://circuitoftheamericas.com/articles/circuit-of-the-americas-brings-in-60000-for-local-charity